The Book of Prophetic Appeal

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Zechariah the prophet wrote and worked as a contemporary of Haggai. However, between the two is realized two very distinct approaches to their similar mission. Haggai, in encouraging the people to continue work on the temple previously abandoned, directly and explicitly told the people God was not pleased with their refusal to rebuild His house and that they needed to redirect their priorities lest they feel His wrath once more. Zechariah, though trying to reveal the same point, took a more indirect approach by relating visions to the people to assure them of the love and care of God, whereby they might overcome their indifference and finish what they had started. Though they each took a different approach success was realized and the temple was completed. However, Zechariah’s teaching extended past just the need for the people to finish building the temple and touched on the future glory that temple would receive through the Messiah who would work in and around it in order to fulfill His purpose of salvation unto all man. It is those two sections into which the book of Zechariah is divided: (1) the need for the temple’s completion (1:1-8:23), and (2) Judah’s future glory and their salvation through the Messiah (9:1-14:21).

In the first section in which the temple’s completion is stressed, Zechariah provides a series of eight visions to encourage the people to rise up and build once more. Among other reasons, the people had forsaken work on the temple possibly because they were afraid that further judgment would come upon them and it would once more be destroyed, thus they did not see any purpose in even starting it. However, in these visions God proves to them His close proximity if only they would once more serve Him. These eight visions are labeled: (1) the rider on the red horse (1:7-17), (2) the four horns and the four carpenters (1:18-21), (3) the man with the measuring line (2:1-13), (4) Joshua, the high priest, appears in filthy garments (3:1-10), (5) the golden candlestick with seven lamps and two olive trees (4:1-14), (6) the flying scroll (5:1-4), (7) the woman sitting in an ephah (5:5-11), and (8) the four chariots and two mountains (6:1-8). Without exception, each of these visions manifests God’s protection of His people and the removal of evil from among them. With this reassurance of safety and righteousness, the people would be encouraged that all would be well and their efforts would not be in vain.

In the second section, the future is beheld with wonder and glory. With the temple rebuilt, service to God would once more reign and through the people’s continuance would come the One long awaited, the Messiah. The enemies of Israel would be overthrown providing reunification and restoration of the people, and through this kingdom of peace would the Prince of peace be brought forth. It is His presence in the book of Zechariah that is so very prominent. No less than twelve times is Jesus Christ pictured in these writings (Zechariah 3:8; 6:12; 6:13; 9:9; 9:10; 11:12-13; 11:7-14; 12:8-9; 12:10; 13:1; 13:6; 13:7); and it is the continued mentions of Christ that give Zechariah’s book a worldwide view. Dunn points out that:

“Zechariah’s view is worldwide. The eyes of the Lord ‘run to and fro through the whole earth’ (4:10). ‘Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people’ (2:11). ‘And they that are far off shall come’ (6:15; Ephesians 2:13). Men of every nation will be drawn to Jehovah through the dispersion of the Jews, saying, ‘We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you’ (8:23). ‘…every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts…’ (14:16).”

Therefore like other of the prophets, who mainly focused their portrayal of future events in favor of Israel herself, Zechariah tried to help the people envision their work being a contribution to the greater good of all the world. Their being a part of something larger than themselves would aid them in finally finishing the temple in a four year period thereby returning to God’s service in its entirety once more.

It is important, too, for the children of God today, adopted into God’s family by the blood of Christ, to realize that the cause of Christianity is one far greater than one’s self. The benefits of it not only apply to the individual, but to the world. Imagine how vastly different this world would be if not for Christianity. There would be no sense of morality, charitability, hospitality, and especially there would be no salvation. But by contributing one’s life to the cause of Christ that life is also being contributed not just to the kingdom of God, but the preservation of decent society. If a people as stubborn and selfish as ancient Israel could unite under God for the greater good of the world to come, surely through the power of the word of God man today can unite in Christ for the greater good. If not, who knows what tomorrow might hold.

-Andy Brewer

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